Dingys Party just got up at the wire to nip Allmar Surprise in the $32,000 Open trot while Tuna Whip won for fun in the $22,000 trot on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Dover Downs, giving driver Tony Morgan his fifth on the card
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Jim Morand moved owner-trainer Tom Clendining's Dingys Party three wide turning for home and had just enough to catch Vic Kirby-driven Allmar Surprise in the final step to score a 1:54.2 victory in the week's feature trot. Allmar Surprise led from the start with Stiletto and Sean Bier charging up after the quarter. The duo slugged it out head-to-head until the final turn. The hard-pressed Allmar Surprise battled Spunky Vic, driven by Ross Wolfenden, in the stretch before the final steps. The win was the second of the year for Dignys Party, a Party Party-Imps Flirt gelding. Spunky Vic held on for third.
Tuna Whip was on the menu in the $22,000 sub-feature trot and did not disappoint. Tony Morgan moved the Tagliabue-Harmonious Lady ridgling into the lead and led at every station for an easy three-length 1:56 triumph. It was the second win for owner PT Stable and trainer Mike Hall. Twelve Seventeen closed strongly to finish second with Jack Parker, Jr. Jobo Da'shabra and Roger Plante were the show finishers.
Morgan picked up his fourth of five wins on the card driving Warren Racing and Dylan Davis' Grinfrombeertobeer to victory in 1:53.2 in the $13,200 Delaware Male pace. Starting from Post 8, Morgan found room fourth before moving behind cover going to the half. At the three quarters, Grinfrombeertobeer raced three wide to get the lead and it was all over from there. The Grinfromeartoear-Cams Mistique gelding won for the first time in 2009. Kuai Diam N (Vic Kirby) finished second in front of Bandito N (Eddie Davis, Jr.).
Morgan's other wins came aboard Allamerican Edge (1:55.4) for Charles Tibbet in the first, Angry Dwarf (1:53.3) for Richard Ringler in Race 2 and Sams Clever Boy (1:53.2) for Arty Foster, Jr. in Race 8.
Morgan, who has recorded 104 wins and close to $900,000 in purses already this year, drove five winners for the second straight day. Ross Wolfenden was also a dominant force scoring four wins during the program.
(With files from Dover)